He was travelling from Kårberg to his brother Bernhard Eklund, Jerome Junction, Arizona. He boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third class passenger , and died in the sinking, his body was never found.

Hans Eklund was probably supporting his mother, the only other known relative was the brother in Arizona. How dependent she was of his sons work is shown by the sum of the payments from the fund.

The Mansion House Fund paid 2699.52 Kr (£148) to mother. No damage claims were made.